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Lake Tahoe

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NORTH LAKE TAHOE
Along the north shore, Tahoe City, Calif., and Incline Village, Nev., offer prime beachfront access for swimmers and boaters to experience the lake’s dazzling blue waters. The California mountain resorts of Northstar and Squaw Valley — north and northwest of the lake, respectively — host luxury lodging with front-door access to some of the world’s best hiking and biking trails. The old rail town of Truckee, Calif., north of the lake, now injects a new sophistication into its dining and shopping scene, best experienced in the summer when you don’t have to slip and slide in your snow boots.
LAKE CLUB, THE RITZ-CARLTON, LAKE TAHOE
Opening June 27, this new luxury lakefront development combines food and activities with an awe-inspiring vista of Tahoe. Guests staying at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe in the mountains north of the lake will now be able to take part in the Lake Club’s exclusive surf-and-turf experience. After hiking or biking in the hills around the Northstar resort, home base for the Ritz, guests can hop a shuttle for a 20-minute ride from the hotel to the Lake Club. The facility and its private pier will provide beach access and connection to a slew of water activities, from sailing to kayaking to waterskiing and parasailing. After playing in the lake, guests can take in the views along with their food and drink on the Lake Club’s dining terrace, soak in the outdoor whirlpool, and roast s’mores over a fire pit. Also this summer, the Ritz launches an “Après Adventurist” package, offering a collection of exclusive curated lakeside activities along with a room stay.
Details: 7170 N. Lake Blvd., Tahoe Vista, Calif.; 530-562-3000; ritzcarlton.com. Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe from $300.
NORTHSTAR’S SPECIALIZED BIKE ACADEMY
The Northstar California resort centers its summer operations on one of the best lift-accessed mountain biking courses in the U.S. The terrain ranges from easy cross-country paths for scenic pedaling to double black diamond runs. This season at the resort’s year-old Specialized Bike Academy expect upgraded trails, enhanced classes, and the latest mountain bikes for rental. Also, book both beginner and advanced clinics, as well as women-specific clinics and individualized lessons for kids. Last February, county officials approved the Northstar Mountain Master Plan, so look for further expansion of terrain and facilities for years to come.
Details: Between Truckee and Kings Beach, Calif., off of Highway 267. 800-466-6784; northstarcalifornia.com. Packages from $239.
OLD TOWN TAP
Not your typical mountain town pizza pub, this restaurant and bar opened in mid-2016 on historic Truckee’s main street as a passion project for husband-and-wife team Marlena John (the pizza fanatic) and Luke Bill (the cocktail connoisseur). With bare brick walls and unadorned glossy wood tables, the Old Town Tap creates a modern hipster vibe within a comfy diner setting. The menu features oddball craft cocktails such as the whiskey-walnut-banana “Chunky Monkey,” artisanal pizzas with locally sourced toppings (kohlrabi, anyone?), inventive dishes such as deviled shrimp (above) and a rotating beer selection exotic enough to please even mustache-twirling hops geeks snacking on seasonal pickles. You can also fill up on traditional short ribs or a sausage pizza and wash it all down with a PBR.
Details: 10164 Donner Pass Road, Suite 1, Truckee, Calif.; 530-563-5233; oldtowntaptruckee.com. Pizzas $12-$15, cocktails $9-$10, cans of PBR $3.